Iron Dynasty

A hint of the smell of food drifted into the main hall from the direction of the dining room.

Xiao Ming, who received the huge benefit, was in a good mood. He said to Li Wei, Since it's time for dinner, the messenger might as well eat at the palace.

Li Wei was a little flattered when he heard this, and he said, I dare not be here, how can I dare to share a seat with Your Highness in a humble body.

It's okay, it's okay, there are not so many rules here in this king, so the messenger should not see outside. Xiao Ming said carelessly, he said to the servant outside the door: Let the pantry prepare an extra meal.

Li Wei became more and more terrified. At this time, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He was not a person who was not welcomed by the King of Chu, or he would not have traveled long distances to serve as the messenger at the age of fifty.

After all, in Chu, the messengers were all humble people. Even if these people died in the hands of the enemy, the King of Chu would not feel bad. Therefore, when Xiao Ming received such a grand reception, he was a little overwhelmed.

Xiao Ming saw Li Wei's expression in his eyes. He told Li Wei to go out first. At this time, Wang Xuan came out from behind the screen at the back of the main hall.

He asked, Do your secret guards know about Li Wei?

His Royal Highness, we have records of some high-ranking officials in Chu, but this Li Wei has none. If the lower official guesses correctly, this Li Wei should be an unwelcome petty official.

Xiao Ming nodded, There must be secret guards in the fief of the King of Chu, and we must try to bribe officials for our use on the bright side. Remember, your secret guards are not just for gathering intelligence, the most important task is to Complete penetration.

Wang Xuan nodded. In fact, their secret guards had been carrying out a very secret plan. Only Xiao Ming and him knew this plan, not even Pang Yukun and other officials.

In this plan, the work of their secret guards has been further expanded. They are not only responsible for espionage work, but also responsible for bribing and infiltrating officials. These officials are from the imperial court, and some have different surnames.

In addition to the officials, their work also includes the infiltration of the people. Just like what the King of Chu did in Yongzhou, their secret guards are also looking for contradictions in Chu, ready to detonate at any time.

His Royal Highness, we have already started this work, but this plan costs a lot, this money? Wang Xuan laughed and began to ask for money.

There is no way, now Qingzhou's finances are so small, whether it is Niu Ben, Pang Yukun or Chen Wenlong, they are all staring at the account of the treasury.

Xiao Ming's face turned green, and he laughed and scolded: They are all a bunch of vampires, you really want this king to suck it up.

His Royal Highness, the lower officials are helpless. These officials have a lot of appetite. If they don't feed them, they will not be obedient. Wang Xuan said with a wry smile.

Okay, okay. Xiao Ming spread his hands, I will talk to Pang Yukun about this, but you have to report the details of the expenses you need, and you can't give this money indiscriminately.

Yes.

Wang Xuan laughed. Unlike the army and the government, who could ask for money on the open, their secret guards could only pass through Xiao Ming. Now that he got Xiao Ming's answer, he told him to retreat and left the main hall.

With a sigh, Xiao Ming's brows furrowed. Now Qingzhou needs money everywhere for development, so it seems that he will speed up the production of more commodities and open up the sea trade routes, otherwise he will have a financial deficit sooner or later.

Just when he was thinking about silver, Aster came over and asked him to go to dinner, because there were guests this time, Fei Yue'er chose to avoid it.

This time, leaving Li Wei to eat and Xiao Ming naturally had bad intentions.

Li Wei is in charge of the procurement negotiation of the artillery this time. It is of course important to go back and say something, so Xiao Ming wants to test Li Wei and find his flaws to buy it.

Because there were only two people eating, Aster arranged the meals in the pavilion of the palace, so that they could enjoy the view of the palace while eating.

After raising a glass and drinking a sip of wine, Xiao Ming observed Li Wei. Although the clothes on his body were not bad, they were a little worn.

The pursuit of scholars in this era is actually very simple.

The eyes gestured to Aster, and Aster turned and left immediately after knowing it. After a while, two singers from the palace came and sat on both sides of Li Wei, with a charming and unparalleled voice.

Seeing this, Li Wei was rather cautious, but he also understood that this was just the way of the general vassal king's hospitality.

Not lewd. This was Xiao Ming's conclusion.

He didn't just look at the surface, Li Wei's eyes were also very clear, without showing a lewd and evil look.

Smiling, Xiao Ming said, Envoy Li, I hope the envoy will go back and have a good word with the King of Chu for this business, and send a lot of craftsmen and merchant ships. If the messenger can get the King of Chu to send more, this King is willing to give the extra part. How about taking a portion of the profits to the messenger?

Li Wei knew that Xiao Ming had impure motives for keeping him as a guest, and he said: Your Highness, Ding is Ding Mao or Mao, and the lower officials are soft-spoken, I am afraid that the King of Chu will not be able to change his mind.

Xiao Ming was a little surprised, this Li Wei was neither greedy nor lustful, this was really difficult, he naturally knew that Li Wei's words were just excuses.

Living in modern times, he naturally knows that although the ambassador is under domestic orders, the ambassador can be very maneuverable in the other country. This Li Wei is in charge of the artillery procurement this time, and may be resident in Qingzhou in the next few years. Responsible for supervising this. There are a lot of tricky things to say about it.

After pondering for a while, Xiao Ming said, People are soft-spoken. Could it be that the official position of the messenger in Chu is very low?

This... Li Wei's eyes suddenly flickered, and he seemed a little annoyed.

Xiao Ming immediately caught Li Wei's change. He had to say that the King of Chu was very shrewd. It was estimated that he was sure that Li Wei was not greedy for money or sex before letting him visit.

But what he didn't estimate was that Li Wei was always dissatisfied with his official career.

Hey, the emissary looks to be in his fifties, but it's a pity. Xiao Ming deliberately provoked Li Wei, and now he really wants to open a breakthrough in the Chu king's fief.

Li Wei's face became more and more ugly. He was also a famous talent in Chu land. For decades, he was just a little boy in the palace of the king of Chu, and his dissatisfaction has always been hidden in his heart.

It's just that he covered it up very well, and the King of Chu didn't see anything different.

The senior officials and the junior officials all serve for the King of Chu, but it's not a pity. Li Wei said cautiously.

The messenger's high-spiritedness is admirable. If the officials in the court have such a mind as the messenger, why would there be no successor to the Honglu Temple in the court.

The court? Li Wei looked moved.